Bands Alumni

2013 Homecoming Alumni Band

Thank you to those who participated in last year's Marching Leathernecks Alumni Band at Homecoming. You did a marvelous job marching and playing with the Marching Leathernecks at halftime, postgame, and in the stands. Once you have ML "chops" they never go away!

With this being the electronic/technology age, we will be communicating with our WIU Band Alums via the bands office database e-mail account and the Band Alumni Facebook page. Please help us by sending this on to your Marching Leatherneck friends - let them know about Band Alumni Weekend, October 11-12, 2013. Also, ask that they send their e-mail addresses to Bands@wiu.edu so that we can more easily communicate with our alums.

Submit the completed Response Form indicating your plans to participate in this year’s homecoming/alumni band events, along with all of your contact information. If you order a shirt, you will have to submit the payment via postal mail. It will involve coming to Corbin-Olson practice field on Friday, October 11 to meet current members, if you can, and then on Sat. morning October 12 for a rehearsal under the direction of Dr. Mike Fansler. The Alumni Band will perform, of course, with the ML’s at the football game. Our after-game social/get together will be at Buffalo Wild Wings (1724 E. Jackson St.) from 7:00 to midnight.

The last couple of years, band alumni purchased the official embroidered "Alumni Band" purple polo shirt and this was worn with khaki pants for the game. We plan the same for this year. You may order your shirt on the Response Form we're providing. See example of logo design on order form. If you have a shirt from last year, then you're "good to go" and won't need to purchase one this year. Please respond ASAP with your Registration Form so that we can send the music and order the shirts.

Dr. Matt Thomas, is in his fourth year as Associate Director of Bands/Director of Marching Leathernecks. At Homecoming, he plans to present an exciting show that you can participate in as a member of the alumni band.

Plan to be with us for a great weekend of playing music, reminiscing, getting re-acquainted, and meeting other Marching Leathernecks alumni. We’ll make our plans for next year and work toward getting more alums to join us for a weekend of being a part of the Marching Leathernecks again! Feel free to contact me (ST-Lawson@wiu.edu) or University Bands if you have any questions.

Thanks for all of your past contributions to the ML’s, and we encourage you to get involved again to shape a better tomorrow for all Marching Leatherneck Alumni. In the future, we wish to plan more activities that will involve the WIU Marching Leathernecks (lunch, dinner, etc.).